Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine comprises a source of flexible packaging material, a tube former which receives the material and forms a depending upwardly open tube, a product dispenser above the former discharges measured quantities of product to the tube, a side sealer closes juxtaposed edges of the tube, a feeder draws the material through the former, and an improved end sealer and stripper has jaws which close horizontally about the tube to a partially closed position, a stripper means on the jaws clears and flattens the end seal area of the tube as the partially closed jaws are swung downwardly to an end sealing position, and the jaws thereafter close and seal the tube.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine has a tube former for receiving flexible packaging material in thin flat strip form and juxtaposing opposite longitudinal edge portions thereof in parallel vertically extending relationship to provide a depending tube open at the top. An end sealer provides vertically spaced horizontally extending transverse or end seals across the tube. A product dispenser discharges measured quantities of product into the tube interior through its open upper end. Tube feed means comprises first and second pairs of vertically spaced rolls respectively on opposite external sides of the tube of packaging material and first and second tube feeding belts respectively trained over said pairs of rolls. Inner runs of the belts engage the tube and have vertically extending perforate portions. Vacuum generating means communicate with the perforate portions to cause the belts to grip the tube and back-up means within the tube provide for frictional tube feeding action.

Abstract: A tubeless vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine has a tube former for receiving flexible packaging material in thin flat strip form and juxtaposing opposite longitudinal edge portions thereof in parallel vertically extending relationship to provide a depending tube open at the top. Side and end sealers respectively seal vertical longitudinal edge portions and provide vertically spaced horizontally extending end seals across the tube. A product dispenser discharges measured quantities of product into the tube interior through its open upper end. Improved tube feed means comprises first and second pairs of vertically spaced rolls respectively on opposite external sides of the tube of packaging material and first and second tube feeding belts respectively trained over said pairs of rolls. Inner runs of the belts engage the tube and have vertically extending imperforate marginal portions and a perforate intermediate portion.

Abstract: A package making machine of the vertical form, fill and seal type has a tube former for receiving flexible packaging material in thin flat strip form and for juxtaposing opposite side edges thereof in parallel vertically extending relationship to provide a depending tube open at the top. Side and end sealers respectively seal the vertical edge portions and provide vertically spaced horizontally extending end seals across the tube. A product dispenser associated with the former discharges measured quantities of product to the tube interior space through its open upper end, a bottom seal having first been provided across the tube by the end sealer. An improved tube advancing or feed means occupies a minimum space vertically beneath the former and provides for a short product drop. The feed means comprises a pair of vacuum feed rolls on spaced horizontal axes and in parallel relationship to peripherally engage opposite sides of the tube.

Abstract: A high speed wrapping machine designed to wrap individual tablet-like products utilizes a wrapping wheel having a plurality of peripheral pockets into which the individual products are moved in the axial direction to drape a panel of wrapping material snuggly over the product. A rotary folding mechanism is situated adjacent the periphery of the wrapping wheel and tucks and folds panel portions extending axially from the pocket against the product as the product moves past the folding mechanism. The rotary folding mechanism is comprised of two rotors, each of which has a plurality of folding blades, and which rotate adjacent the pockets at one side of the wrapping wheel in synchronized relationship. The rotors have spaced and parallel axes of rotation, both of which are located outside the periphery of the wrapping wheel.

Abstract: A package making machine of the vertical form, fill and seal type has a tube former for receiving packaging material in thin flat strip form and for juxtaposing opposite side edges thereof in parallel vertically extending and overlapped relationship to provide a depending tube open at the top. A product dispenser discharges measured quantities of product to the tube interior space, a lower end portion thereof being sealed transversely by an end sealing apparatus. Tube advancing means may comprise intermittently operable vertically extending vacuum belts or, alternatively, the end sealer may be reciprocated vertically to draw the strip material downwardly through the former. At a longitudinal seam sealing station beneath the former a vertically elongated sealing bar moves to engage and to seal the overlapped longitudinal edges of the tube.

Abstract: A mechanism for forming seals at spaced points along the length of a body of web material moved through the mechanism is comprised of two sealing jaws and a simple device for opening and closing the jaws whereby the mechanism consists of a small number of parts and may be made at a relatively low cost and to have a relatively light weight. The jaws are slidably supported relative to a base for pure linear motion and are moved between their open and closed conditions by an air cylinder or other fluid actuator which is unfixed to and floats relative to the base.